Car-coupling



M. L. ECKHART.

C'AR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-30.1920.

Patented May 17,1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' L. ECKHART.

: CAR COUPLING.. 4 APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30, I920.-

Patented May 17, 1921.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2. I

M. L. ECKHART.

CAR COUPLING. APPLICATION-FILED JAN. 30. 1920.

Patented May 17, 1921 4 SHEETS -SHEEI 3.

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M. L. 'ECKHART.

. CAR COUPLING."

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30, I920.

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UNITED STATES PATENT T oir icE.

MARVIN L. ECKHART, QF ATTICA, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL CAR COUPLER00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

. Application filed January 30, 1920. Serial No. 355,062. Y

which the following is a specification, ref-.

erence being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the referencecharacters marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in car couplers, and moreparticularly to what might be termed radial couplers for mine cars,which latter are usually operated-upon narrow gage tracks and aroundvery sharp curves. I

The various types of couplers in use on surface and standard gage tracksare not applicable to mine cars of relatively narrow width and operatedaround sharp ,curves, for reasons well known. Therefore, on mine cars,the coupling is usually accomplished by a simple hook and chain and bymanual effort. They are not automatically operated.

Generally, the hook, pin or clevis, to which the chain link is attachedin coupling two mine cars together, is positioned centrally of the carend, and in a pocket or recess formed by bumpers projecting from the endsill of the car. This construction affords opportunity for accidents,which not infrequently happen to the operator when coupling anduncoupling the cars. Moreover, the bumpers, which are required forobvious reasons, necessarily project from' the side margins of the carends a considerable distance and this interferes with the operation ofsuch cars around curves as sharp as are required in many parts of almostevery mine.

It is the obj ect of my invention to produce a car coupler which willact automatically to coupletwo cars together; which may be uncoupledfrom a point at the side of the cars; which will provide the necessarybump-- ers upon the car ends; which will enable the coupled cars of atrain to be swung around the sharpest curves without uncoupling; whichwill simplify and cheapen mining car construction; which will beapplicable in principle to all types of mining cars, requiring slightand minor modifications in the means of attachment only for thecars ofdifferenttypes'; which may be applied to existing types of cars bymaking the minimum alterations therein and which Wlll be strong, durableand eflicient in use,

reduce the cost of repairs and'upkeep to a minimum and finally, but notleast, reduce the possibility of accidents to the operators to anegligible quantity.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May .1, 1921.

. These and other objects of invention i I will be more fullyappreciatedas I proceed with my specification. In that form in which Ihave chosen to illustrate my invention in the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end view of a car, partially in section, to which thecoupling embodying my invention, is applied.

Fig. 2 1s a top plan view of one end of the car.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, enlarged, and

partially in section, of the coupling, the

section being in the horizontal plane indicated by the dotted line 33 ofFig. 4:.

F g. dis an enlarged, vertical, transverse sectional view on the planeindicated by the dotted line 4-4]: of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged-view of the coupling,

in side elevation, showing a part of the car floor timbers to which itis bolted.

Fig. is anenlarged, vertical, longitudi nal sect1onal view of thehousing with the;

interior parts removed, the section being taken in theplane indicated bythe dotted line 66 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a similar sectional view with the 7 v interior parts inposition.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the rem'ovable swinging plate on whichthe coupler arms are secured. 1

Fig. 9 1s a mg lever.

Fig. 10 is a view similarto that of Fig.

' Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken: in the plane indicated bythe dotted line 12-12 of Fig. 10, showing thelunlocking perspectiveviewof the unlocklever in a different position from that illuse trated inFig. 7.

The car, designated as a whole by the let '105 tional type, comprisingvertical side walls ter A, may be of any ordinary OfI' conven- 1.0, endwalls 11, inclined bottom 12, and a floor 13, all supported upon axles14 carrying track wheels 15. Beneath the lower part of the end walls 11is a transverse beam or timber 16. i i V B indicates as a whole, thehousing of my improved coupler, comprising upper and 7 lowerhorizontally disposed plates 17, 18,

respectively, integral with and spaced apart by a vertically disposedrear wall 19, and side walls 20, 20. Projecting outwardly from the rearand side walls 19, 20, is a horizontally disposed flange plate 21,provided with suitable bolt holes 22 through which may be passed thebolts 23 used in securing the housing B to the car floor 13. The flangeplate 21 is preferably so located as to afford space for locating one ormore (in this instance, two) strengthening ribs 24 beneath it.

The, top and bottom plates 17 and 18 of the housing 13, forward of-theside walls 20, 20, are rounded and are provided'with marginal downwardlyprojecting flange walls 25, 26, respectively. These rounded flangedportions, ofthe plates 17, 18, may properly be designated the couplerhead. It will be noticed that between the topsurface of the bottom plate18 and the lower margm of the flange 25 (see Figs. 6, 11 and 12) thereis a considerable space which I have indicated by the letter C, whichspace affords .means for the insertion of the coupler parts presently tobe described, and meansfor the operative movement of said parts when thedevice as a whole is in use ona car.

Projecting downwardly from the under side of the plates 17,18, areapertured bosses 27 28, respectively, one shorter than the other (seeFig. 6), the lower face "of the 7 boss 27 being in the horizontal planeof the lower margin of the flange 25. The aperture 29 extends throughthe boss 28 and the plate 18. The aperture 30, in vertical aline-' meritwith the aperture 29, extends through the boss 27 and communicates withan en-: larged aperture 31 in the plate 17. A pivot pin 32extends'through the apertures 29, 30, its head 33 resting in theaperture 31 and a nut 34v on its lower end serving to bear against theboss 28 and lock the pin 32 in place. It will be noticed that thevertical axis of the apertures 29 and 30 is located to of its rearportion are vertical apertures 36, 36, to afford bearings for plvot pins37 37 In each side of the plate D is a horizontally disposed slot 38,38, for a purpose to be.

presently stated.

E designates, as a whole, a casting which I call a coupling knuckle andof which two are required. Each knuckle comprises an irregular shapedbody 39, a vertically apertured, pivoting flange 40, and a knuckle arm41, the latter having a coupling head 42 on its end. The thickness ofthe body 39 is such as to permit of its insertion inthe space G of thehousing, and the thickness of the flange 40 is such as to permit saidflange to be inserted in the slot-. 38. The pin 37 passes through theapertured flange 40 and the depth of the said slot 38 is such that theknuckle E may be moved laterally with respect to thefulcrum plate D byswinging upon the pin 37 as a pivot. The arm 41 and the head 42 arerelativelythicker than the body 39, the thickness, in the formillustrated, bein substantially equal to the dis, tance from the top ofthe plate 17 to the bottom of the flange 26. V i

The margin of the body 39 from which the flange 40 extends is tapered orinclined upwardly and inwardly," as shown at 43 in Figs. 3 and 10, thusconforming to the tri angular contour of the fulcrum plate D to whichthe two knuckles E, E, are pivotally secured. V

The plate D and the two knuckles are normally centered with respect tothe housing B by the following means: A spring. 44 is coiled between itsends '45, 45, around and is mounted upon the boss 27. On each end 45 ofsaid spring is a bushing 46 which has frictional contact against theinclined rear margin of a lug 47. on the body 39.,

Intermediate the coiled central part of the spring 44 and its two ends45, 45, the spring is bent upwardly, as shown at 48,- to contact andbear against the face of a lug 49 which projects downwardly fromtheunder side of the plate 17. Thus it will be readily seen I i thatwhatever force or pressure is exerted upon oneof the knuckles E will becommunicated tothe plate D through pivotal connections 40, 37, andsimilarl to the opposite knuckle, both knuckles E, and the plate D,swinging or moving together as a ing 46 carried on the other end of thespring 44, will be out of contact. Thus there will be constant tensionby one end of said spring 44 to return the jaws to their normal closedposition as soon as the fulcrum plate and jaws,as a unit, are free to soreturn.

Means are provided, however, for spread} ing the knuckles E, E, apart,and for returning them, to their normally closed osition, the latterposition being shown in 1g.

gether, or in the normal position shown in I In said Fig.- 3, the heads42 of the knuckles E, E, of two cars are shown in operative engagement,the one set of knuckles being illustrated by dotted lines.

The unlocking lever L, See Fig. 9, comprises an operating arm 51 whichis preferably apertured at 56 for engagement with a link, cord, or chain(not shown) whereby the arm 51 may be actuated, and a rightangledshank57 carrying on its upper end portion a camshapedelongated head 58 andhaving a flanged end 59. Located between the recess' 52 and the upperpart of the inner margin 43 of the body 39 is a shallow recess 60 havinga straight bottom and curved end walls as shown. When the two knucklesE, E, are in their normally closed position, these recesses 60, 60,register and together form an elongated slot with straight parallelsides and rounded ends as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. The head58 of the lever L has correspondingly straight parallel sides androunded ends, adapted to fitin said elongated slot. It will be observedthat the latter is located with its longitudinal or major axis parallelwith the abutting side margins 67 of the body 39, i

and as a consequence, said margins will'be moved apart whenever thelever L is turned so that the rounded ends of the head 58 bear againstthe straight sides of the slot; the head 58 being longer than it iswide, said rounded ends act as cams to spread the knuckles E, E, apartagainst the tension of the spring 50.

To retain the lever tion, and to prevent it from falling out through anentrance opening 61 in the lower plate 18, a marginal flange or nb 6218" formed on the body 39 for the lever end 59 to rest upon. And, tofurther insure proper L in its proper posiof which is adjacent to theupper surface of the lever. end 59. This rib 63, as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 3, is formed on a radius, of a circle, having the axis ofthe bolt 32 as a center, and its length is'such as, to em-' brace theextreme limit of movement or oscillation of the knuckles E, E, and thefulcrum plate D bolt 32.

When two cars are to be coupledtogether,

the knuckles E, E, of the adjacent ends are normally in the positionsshown in full lines in Fig- 3, in the same horizontal plane and,

theoretically, truly centered. In practice,

however, the lugs 49,49, are just sufficiently, oil the transversecenter line so that the.

points 64 of the knuckle jaws 42 will" not register, that is, will notlie in the same vertical plane, the result being that as one car ispushed closer'to the other, the sides 65 of the jaws engage, the jaws onone car sliding on the jaws of the other car until the shoulders 66 ofthe jaws 42 interlock, as shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 3. Thisinterlocking is automatic, on account of the tension spring 50, whichstretches 01 yields -.as the jaws are sliding upon each other.f(theknuckles E, E, being spread.

apart by this sliding contact) and which promptly contracts the momentthe shoul ders 66 come into alinement. The carsbe lng thus coupledtogether, the train maybe moved along a stralght or a curved track,

the couplers holding firmly on the shortest,

ofcurves because the. knuckles readily pivon either side ofthe pivototing upon thebolts 32 conform to the curvature;

Touncouple the cars, the "operator actu ates the lever L on one ofthecars by tak-- ing hold of the arm51 or. the. link connect ed thereto at56, and thus turns the. earn head 58 in the slot 60. This action willtend w to spread the knuckles E,-,E,- apart, and disengages, we willsay, the right hand arm 3 from the corresponding arm E .on the, othercar. As the twocars are pulled awayfrom each other, the jaws on thelefthand side w1ll automatically shift toward the center line of thecouplers into such position'as willautomatically:permitthe shoulder 66of one arm E to slip by andfree from the .corresponding shoulder 66 ofthe arm on the other car. 1 The curvatures given to the arms 41 andtheir shoulders 66' are such that as these, arms E, E, move toward thecenter line, the jaws will be disengaged entirely before the two arms E,E, reach their nor mal position as shownin full lines in Fig. 3. Inuncoupling, it is only necessary to turn the cam head 58 of. onecoupler.

It may beobserved that the shape and arrangement or" these arms E, E,are such that when they are engaged-with the arms of the adjacent,car,the cars may be turned upon a very short curve without uncoupling.

In practice I have demonstrated that thesecouplers will hold and notbecome disengaged when thescurveof the track is so short as to cause theinside corners of the. adjacent car ends to meet. I regard this as animportant features of my invention.

It will be noticed that the rounded plates 17, 18, extend well forwardfrom the car end 11 and serve as bumpers, and as such itheir roundedmargins permit one to rock,

so to speak, about the other when two cars coupled together are goingaround a curve;

Moreover, the width ofthe coupler housing B relative to the width of thecar A is such that curves so sharp as to cause the end corners a toalmost contact on the curve, may be readily negotiated without anydanger of the interlocked. knuckle jaws 4:2, 42, becoming unlocked. V

I would have it understood that the shape of the rear end of the housingB and of 'the attaching flange 21 may be varied to suit carsother thanthat of the car A herein illustrated, said car A 7 being shown merely asone type of car to which my im proved radial coupler may be applied.

Therefore, I wish it understoodthat I. do

not limit my invention to the specific details of construction hereinshown and described, except as may-be indicated by the subjoined claims.

I claim as my'invention: 1. A car coupler comprising a housing, meansfor securing the housing tothe car,

a fulcrum plate pivotally mounted within the housing, a pair of fulcrumarms each pivotally secured at its rear end to said plate and providedat its outer end with a 7 coupling jaw projecting beyond the margin ofthe housing and means independent of the plate for operatively holdingthe ful- 'crum arms together.

2. A car coupler comprising a housing having two forwardly projectingplates spaced apart, means for securing the housing to the. car,afulcrum plate pivotally mounted within the housing between said plates,a pair of fulcrum arms each pivotally secured at its inner end to saidful-.

crum plate and having on its other end a coupling aw projectingoutwardly through the space between the housing plates, and means uponthe fulcrum arms for yieldingly holding said arms normally together;

3. A car coupler comprising a housing having two forwardly projectingplates spaced apart, means for securing the housing to the car, afulcrum plate pivotally mounted within the housing between said plates,a pair of fulcrum arms each pivotally secured at its inner end to saidfulcrum plate and having on its outer end a coupling jaw which projectsoutwardly through thespace between the housing plates, means on thefulcrum arms for yieldingly holding their other ends them normallytogether. and means for spreading said arms apart.

a. A car coupler comprising a housing 5. A car coupler comprising ahousing having top and bottom plates spaced apart at the front of thehousing to form a' slot 'or space, said housing being adapted to besecured to the car, a fulcrum plate pivotally mounted within thehousing, a pair of fulcrum arms movablyconnectedfto the ful-- crum plateand projecting outwardly through and adapted to move laterally in thespace between the two housing plates, a coupling jaw on the end; of eachfulcrum arm, yielding means attached to the ful-' crumarms for'holdingsaid arms in coupling relation and means upon the housing and incooperative relation with the fulcrum arms for holding the fulcrum plateand said arms in operative relation.

6. A car coupler comprising a housing having top andbottom plates spacedapart at the front of the housing to form a slot or space, neans forsecuring the housing to the car, a fulcrum plate pivotally mountedwithin the housing, a pair of fulcrum arms movably connected to thefulcrum plate and projecting outwardly through and adapted to movelaterally in the space between the two housing plates, a coupling jawonthe end of each fulcrum arm, yielding means attached to the fulcrum armsfor normally holding said arms in coupling relation and resilient meansupon the housing and cooperatively associated. with the fulcrum arms forholding the fulcrum plate and said arms inoperative relation.

7. A carcoupler comprising a housing having top and bottom plates spacedapart at thefront of the housing to form a slot or space, means forsecuring the housing to the car, a fulcrum plate pivotally mount edwithin the housing, a pair of fulcrum arms movably connected to thefulcrum plate and projecting outwardly through and adapted to movelaterally in the space between the two housing plates, a coupling jaw onthe end of each fulcrum arm, a spring for normally holding said arms incoupling relation and a sprlng colled between its ends and mounted upona fixed portion of the housing, with oppositely extending arms the endof each of which is in yielding contact with a fulcrum arm and theportions of the spring intermediate its ends and its coiled part havingcontact with a fixed lug on the housing. I p v 8. A car couplercomprising a housing having top and bottom plates spaced'apart housingplates, a coiled spring yieldingly connecting the fulcrum arms to holdthem normally together and a springmounted upon the pivoted fulcrumplate for holding the fulcrum plate and arms in. operative relation,said spring being adapted to contact in operative relation with saidarms and a fixed part upon the housing. v

9. A car coupler comprisinga housing having top and bottom plates spacedapart at the front of the housing to form a slot or space, means forsecuring the housing to the car, a fulcrum plate pivotally mountedwithin the housing, a pair of fulcrum arms, the inner end of each armbeing pivotally connected to the fulcrum plate, the outer end of eacharm projecting outwardly through and adapted to move laterally in thespace between the two housing plates,

andbeing provided with a coupling jaw, a

coiled spring-'yieldingly connecting the fulcrum arms to hold themnormally together and mechanism cooperating with both fulcrum arms forspreading them apart.

10. A car coupler comprising a housing adapted to be secured to a carand with vertically spaced apart plates projecting, in use, forward ofthe car body end, a triangular shaped fulcrum plate provided with a boltbearing aperture, laterally extending recesses in the side margins ofthe fulcrum plate, a pair of fulcrum arms, projecting apertured lugs onthe fulcrum arms adapt ed to fit in the lateral recesses of the fulcrumplate, pivot pins for movably securing said arms to the fulcrum plateand a spring mounted upon the housing with its ends cooperating with thefulcrum arms for centering the fulcrum plate and arms;

11. A car coupler comprising a housing having two forwardly projectingplates spaced apart, said housing being adapted to be secured to thecar, a fulcrum plate pivotally mounted and located within the spacebetween said plates, a pair of fulcrum arms pivotally secured at one endto said fulcrum plate, their other ends projecting outwardly through thespace between the housing their other ends icrum arms apart.

plates, a coupling jawon the outer end of each fulcrum arm, a verticallyarranged pivot bolt passing through the fulcrum plate and the housingabout which said plate and the parts carried thereby may pivot or swingin a horizontal plane, mechanism associated with the housing and thefulcrum armsfor centering same, comprising a boss on the inside of thehousing and a spring coiled about said boss and the spring armsprojecting in opposite directions, a pair of lugs on the housing, one oneither side of said boss, against which-a bent part of vthe oppositelyprojecting spring arms contact, a lug on each fulcrum arm and apair ofbushings one on the end of each spring arm in contact with one ofsaidlugs.- 1

12. A car coupler comprising a housing provided with means whereby itmay be secured to a car and with horizontally spaced apart platesprojecting, in use, forward of the car body end, a pivotally mountedfulsecured at one end to said fulcrum plate,

for yieldingly holding them'normal'ly together or. in couplingrelation,said means comprising a coiled spring having projecting arms,alinedrecesses in the proximate projecting outwardly through the spacebetween the housing 1 plates, means connecting the fulcrumv arms edgesof the fulcrum armsto receive said -cesses to which the spring ends areanchored, and means for spreading the ful- I 13. A car coupler.comprising .a housing provided with means whereby'it maybe secured to acar and with horizontally spaced apart plates projecting, in use,forward of the car body end, a pivotally mounted fulcrum plate, locatedwithin the space between said plates, a pair of fulcrum arms pivotallysecured at one end to said fulcrum plate, their other ends projectingoutwardly through the space between the housing plates, means connectingthe fulcrum arms for yieldingly holding them normally to gether or incoupling relation comprising a coiled spring having projecting arms,alined recesses in the proximate edges of the fulcrum arms to receivesaid coiled spring and pins in the alined recesses to which the springends are anchored, means for spreading the fulcrum arms apart comprisingan unlocking lever.

plate, their other ends projecting outwardly through the space betweenthe housing plates, means connecting the fulcrum arms for yieldinglyholding them normally together or in coupling relation comprising avcoiled'spring having projecting, arms,

alined recesses in the proximate edges ofthe fulcrum arms to receivesaid coiled spring and pins 'in the alined' recesses to which the springends are anchored, means for spreading the fulcrum. arms apartcomprising an unlocking lever, a cam surface on the lever'andcooperating recesses in the proximate edges of the fulcrum arms withinwhich the-operating head of the lever is located. I

15. A car coupler comprising a housing provided with means whereby itmay be secured to a car and with'horizontally spaced apart platesprojecting,,in use, forward of the car body end, a pivotally mountedfulcrum plate, located within the, space hetweenfsa'id plates, a pair offulcrum arms pivotally'secured at one end to said fulcrum plate, theirother ends projecting'out- Wardly through the space between the housingplates, means connecting the fulcrum arms for yieldingly holding themnormally together or in coupling relation comprising a coiled springhaving projecting arms, alined recesses in the proximate edges of thefulcrum arms to receive said coiled spring and pins in the alinedrecesses to which the spring ends are anchored,'means for spreading thefulcrum arms apart comprising an unlocking lever, means on the housingfor limiting the insertion therein of the unlocking lever beyond apredetermined distance and means for retaining the Jan 1920.

lever in operative position within the hou'spivotally secured at one endto said fulcrum plate, their other ends projecting outwardly through thespace between the housing plates, means connecting the fulcrum arms foryieldingly holding them normally together or in coupling relationcomprising a coiled'spring having projectingarms,

.alined recessesin the proximate edges of the fulcrum arms to receivesaid coiled spring 1 and pins in the alined recesses to which the springends are anchored, means for spreading the fulcrum arms apart comprisingan unlocking lever, a. cam surface on the lever and cooperatlng recesses1n the proximate edges of the fulcrum arms within which the operatinghead of the lever is located,means on the housing for limiting theinsertion therein of the unlocking lever beyonda predetermined distanceand means for retaining the lever in operative position within thehousing. V a r In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention IafiiX my si nature, in the presence of tWOYW1tDGSSGS, t is 26 day ofMARVIN L; EcKHART,

Witnesses:

R. J. HARRISON, G. C. DICKEI.

